Effect of variable cerium concentration on photoluminescence behaviour in ZrO₂ phosphor synthesized by combustion synthesis method

Present paper reports synthesis and characterization of trivalent cerium (Ce³⁺) doped zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) phosphors. Effect of variable concentration of cerium on photoluminescence (PL) is studied. Samples were prepared by combustion synthesis technique which is suitable for less time taking techniques also for large scale production for phosphors. Starting material used for sample preparation are Zr(NO₃)₃ and Ce(NO₃)₃ and urea used as a fuel. All prepared phosphor with variable concentration of Ce³⁺ (0.1 to 2mol%) was studied by photoluminescence analysis it is found that the excitation spectra of prepared phosphor shows broad excitation centred at 390nm. The excitation spectra with variable concentration of Ce³⁺ show strong peaks at 447nm. Spectrophotometric determinations of peaks are evaluated by Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage technique. Using this phosphor, the desired CIE values including emissions throughout the violet (390 nm) and blue (427 nm) of the spectra were achieved. Efficient blue light emitting diodes were fabricated using Ce³⁺ doped phosphor based on near ultraviolet (NUV) excited LED lights.